MANSFIELD - The man who runs Haring Realty located the firm's new Welcome Center in an area of Mansfield that, in recent years, has been showing a vibrant pulse.

Broker Peter Haring said he might not have considered siting a realty company satellite office in downtown Mansfield a few years back.

But was drawn to 130 N. Main St. by a proliferation of nearby businesses that make it a place where Realtors might like to meet with customers for the first time, schedule a closing, or hold a special event.

“It's all very walkable to grab a bite to eat, or stop for coffee or walk the shops," he said.

Most area Realtors have tended to site offices closer to Mansfield’s outskirts than to its central core in recent decades.

"Three years ago, I would not have expected to be downtown," Haring said. "But there were just epiphanies."

Haring said he spotted the space when he happened to be driving downtown, and a thought took root.

When the yoga studio formerly operated there moved out, he decided to set up a downtown satellite office for his realty company, headquartered at 1180 Lexington Ave., on Mansfield’s south side.

The property owner, Engwiller Properties, has tended to acquire downtown space and rent it rather than sell – an exception is Downtown Mansfield Inc., which recently purchased nearby 128 N. Main St. for $50,000, according to county auditor’s records.

“I wanted to buy it, believe me,” Haring said.

That didn’t work out – but the Realtor found the location compelling.

The recently opened Welcome Center lies within an easy stroll of a popular coffee shop that has become a draw and several restaurants. It’s just south of the Urban Center, close to Richland Carrousel and the Little Buckeye Museum.

And it’s got an bonus: from the realty office’s rear entrance, a direct view of The Brickyard and its concert stage.

Last year, according to Downtown Mansfield Inc. CEO Jennifer Kime, the outdoor entertainment series held at The Brickyard attracted about 30,000 visitors to the downtown area,

"This is Mansfield's premier entertainment venue… really, Richland County's premier venue, that has mass appeal," Haring said. "Because it draws big crowds, it's a way for us to connect with a lot of the community.”

Downtown "is where Mansfield is really experiencing a renaissance," the broker said.

Realtors can bring out-of-town clients unfamiliar with the area to North Main Street to try to sell Mansfield’s charm.

After powering up laptops to cast images of properties for sale on a big screen on the wall, they can show off downtown amenities.

Haring said the vibrancy now found downtown didn't materialize by chance.

Buy Photo

The entrance of the new Haring Realty Welcome Center.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)

Over several decades, “John Fernyak has invested a lot of money into really bringing these buildings back to a high-quality, functional state. All of a sudden, you have usable buildings. John really is the one who has taken the first step, and jumped off the diving board, into the water. It takes somebody to do that first,” Haring said.

The broker also credited Paul Kemerling, owner of Relax It's Just Coffee, with creating a coffee shop that drew a steady stream of loyal customers. “Relax helps create a critical mass of foot traffic to this part of downtown," he said.

"I think it's a great area to invest in – and the timing is right," Haring said.

Haring spent several months fine-tuning the redesign of the space, prior to the May 25 Chamber after-hours at which Welcome Center made its public debut.

When The Brickyard is quiet, agents can use 130 N. Main as a satellite office.

"There is not a single desk in this space here. It's more of a hospitality space, and a space where we can share ideas," he said.

Haring had large glass wall systems installed that allow agents to collaborate with others, through a projection system that allows users to screenshare multiple images — and to make temporary marks on the glass, to edit what they're seeing, to sharing concepts.

Just outside the Welcome Center, passers-by can use touchscreen equipment to bring up realty listings, even when the building itself isn't open, Haring added.